heartburning in the service. At this distance of time, there is no harm in saying, that the distribution and omissions, were in many instances unjust. Every officer in a general action is entitled either to approbation or censure: if he does his duty, let him have his reward; if he does not do it, let him be displaced by another and a better man; in this point of view, there were many good and gallant men very ill-treated; Schomberg, of the Culloden; Bazeley, of the Alfred; Elphinstone, of the Glory; Collingwood, of the Barfleur; and some others.

A liberal subscription was made by the merchants at Lloyd's for the relief of the wounded, as well as for the widows and orphans of those who fell in the action: the cities of London and Edinburgh, and the corporation of the Trinity-house, also, contributed very largely.

His Majesty was graciously pleased to direct the following proportion of prize money to be immediately paid, viz.

And, as a further mark of encouragement and favour, the legislature repealed the duty of five per cent. on all prizeships taken, as far at least as related to ships of war and pri

vateers.

The action of the 1st of June was fought further from the land than any sea-fight between fleets recorded in history; this was Villaret's plan to save his convoy.

We find it asserted in the Annual Register for 1795, that the French, in this engagement, lost 10,000 men in killed, wounded, and prisoners: I have no wish to gratify national vanity by exaggerating the losses of our enemies; nor any delight in detailing the destruction of the human species. The seven ships taken, at a fair average of 700 or 750 each, might have contained 5,000 men; and it is impossible to suppose that the fleet which escaped, took away with it more than 2,000 killed and wounded: which would give the enormous

number of 106 to each ship: I therefore calculate their loss at between 6,000 and 7,000 men,

It was stated in the first number of this work, page 142, that Sir Edward Codrington was first Lieutenant of the Queen Charlotte in the action of the 1st of June. This is a mistake. The late Captain Thomas Larcom was the first Lieutenant, and Sir Edward Codrington was one of the junior, but became first Lieutenant in the following year, after the promotion of Lieutenant Cochet, now a Vice-admiral.

CHAPTER VIII.

West Indies, from 1783 to 1793-Effects of the peace-Cause of the distress of the 'colonies-Navigation act-Impolicy of the British government-Fatal effects-Conduct of Nelson-New laws for their protection-Account of the islands' population, produce, and revenue -French settlements-St. Domingo-Origin of the civil war, and events which led to the destruction of that island-Conduct of the Captain of a French ship of war-the Assembly embark for FranceMauduit and Ogé-Policy of the British government towards St. Domingo-Destruction of Port au Prince-Description of the West Indies-Yellow fever-Mode of prevention-Station preferred by seamen in general.

THE peace which in 1783 had restored tranquillity to Europe, left the West-India islands to enjoy a small portion of that repose for which they had so long panted.

The active and almost exterminating warfare carried on in the Caribbean seas and islands, during the American and preceding contests, kept the colonies in a constant state of. alarm, and had reduced their inhabitants of every description to the most deplorable wretchedness: peace however being restored, it was hoped that plenty would have followed; but in this hope they were disappointed.

The Americans, who, from subjects of the British empire, had now become an independent people, could no longer be permitted to trade under the laws of the mother country; and the navigation act particularly excluded them from all commerce with our colonies, where the commodities which they imported had become indispensable necessaries of life;

nor could the trade of the West-India planters be supported without the lumber which was grown in America and exchanged for the overplus of the colonial productions.

In 1783 Mr. Pitt saw, and immediately provided for, the wants of the islands, by bringing a bill into parliament for their relief, enabling them to trade as before the separation. The limitation imposed regarded the size and description of vessels, which were to be sloops or schooners not exceeding eighty tons' burden, without topmasts, and having no deck further forward than a small cabin for the accommodation of the master and crew.

This was an act of justice and sound policy, due to a part of the empire remarkable for its attachment to the government, and now threatened with famine by the rigid enforcement of laws rendered, by change of circumstances, no longer expedient. Unfortunately the administration of Mr. Pitt terminated in the course of a few months after the definitive treaty; and his successor, influenced by the representations from the colonies of North America which still retained their allegiance, caused the acts of his predecessor to be repealed, under the impression that we were favouring the trade of America at the expense of our own, and destroying the nursery for our seamen by admitting the United States to participate in the benefits of the carrying trade.

No arguments, however sound and convincing, could gain attention in favour of the planters; and the most unjustifiable means were resorted to in order to deceive both the government and the people. It was pretended that Canada and Nova Scotia could supply provisions and lumber sufficient for all our islands in the West Indies! It were scarcely more absurd to say, that Scotland and Ireland should receive their nourishment from Iceland; yet the iniquitous or senseless proposition obtained belief; and fifteen thousand negroes fell a sacrifice by famine to thé misguided councils of the mother country. Mr. Pitt, on his return into office in 1784, lamented the state of the colonies; but, unable to obtain for them the boons they so urgently demanded, he referred their claims to a council of trade,

and they were rejected. I am guided on this subject by Mr. Bryan Edwards's history of the West Indies, a work I never read without improvement, nor without regretting that I was not acquainted with the Author.

The governors of the plantations had, however, the diseretionary power, under particular circumstances, of relaxing the severity of the law, and admitting temporary importation; this afforded little relief; the trade of the islands declined because they were forced to cultivate food for their own support, instead of employing their capital in more profitable speculations at the same time their produce was not only heavily taxed, but placed under restrictions which in some instances tended to its annihilation. From 1780 to 1805, droughts and hurricanes multiplied their distress, and, with the causes already mentioned, almost drove the unfortunate planters to despair.

In the mean time the squadron of his Majesty's ships, stationed for their protection, increased their calamity, nor was it in the power of the captains, without a dereliction of duty, to afford them the smallest relief.

Rear-admiral Sir Richard Hughes commanded on the Leeward-Island station, and our hero Nelson was at the same time captain of the Boreas of twenty-eight guns.

The commander-in-chief, either ignorant of the navigation act, or not comprehending its meaning, allowed it to remain a dead letter; but Nelson, whose whole soul was for his country and his profession, fancied he saw the United States rising into power by the supineness or false indulgence of our government; he therefore seized many American traders, and prosecuted them in the vice-admiralty courts. The planters opposed him, because their existence was at stake; the Admiral, for the same reason, espoused their cause; and Nelson, though in the performance of his duty, was exposed to insult, and not safe from personal violence. The judges of the vice-admiralty courts, however they might view the error of the government at home, could indulge no private feeling; and a violation of the law was necessarily followed by condemnation of the property: appeals to the courts at home were ruinous to the claimants, while they